Apparatus for handling sheet material



C. C. KINKER APPARATUS FOR HANDLING SHEET MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 OOOOOOO0 0000OOOOOOOOO ll w NM 6 A w\ on Feb. 25, 1964 Filed May 23, 1961 ....u E s Feb. 25, 1964 c. c. KINKER 3,l22,364

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING SHEET MATERIAL Filed May 23, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 8 0 a w I I] a A'Q I f I 'l 1 o 3 l 0 I ll g y J A fro/91v: rs

United States Patent 3,122,364 APPARATUS FUR HANDLING SHEET MATERIAL Clarence C. Kinlrer, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Owenslllinois Glass Qompany, a corporation of Qhio Filed May 23, 1961, Ser. No. 112,117 8 Claims. (CL 27173) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for collecting, stacking, and handling material delivered in successive sheets from a machine. The invention will be illustrated in its application to apparatus for handling sheet material from a corrugating machine, such apparatus being generally known as an oil-bearing device.

A corrugator delivers sheet material in such quantity as to present a serious handling problem at the discharge end of the machine. The delivered sheet material is usually collected and formed into stacks and since the operation is a continuous one, there is no time available etween the delivery of successive sheets in which a completed stack can be removed and a new stack started.

Off-bearing devices in commercial use generally employ either of two solutions to this handling problem. In one type of device two stack forming stations are provided along with a mechanism for diverting sheets delivered from the machine to either one of these stations. While a stack is being collected at one station, a previously formed stack is removed from the other station. This type of device is subject to the general disadvantage of being quite expensive because of the amount of structure and mechanism required for providing two stations and for handling stacks from each of these stations. The other type of device operates on the general principle of providing some means for holding back the flow of sheets delivered from the machine for an interval sufiicient to permit the removal of a formed stack. A ragged stack forming operation is usually encountered in devices of this type because sufiicient time cannot be provided in this manner for the orderly removal of a bundle without holding back the flow of on-coming sheets to such an extent that these sheets become disarranged. As the number of sheets delivered in a given time interval increases, this condition becomes worse with the result that this type of device definitely limits the rate at which a corrugator can be operated either in terms of sheets per time interval or lineal feet of material per time interval.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide an off-bearing device which is relatively simple structurally and which operates to collect sheet delivered from the machine into stacks or bundles without disturbing the flow of sheets from the machine, in which adequate time is provided for the removal of a bundle while a succeeding bundle is being collected.

According to the invention means are provided for defining a receiving or collecting station adjacent the discharge end of the machine and which includes a stop for arresting the flow of sheets coming from the machine and a floor on which sheets can rest. A sheet supporting means having a length in excess of the length of a sheet is mounted for movement generally parallel to the floor on at least one level which is above the level of the floor and below the discharge level of the machine, and this sheet supporting mews is continuously driven in synchronism with the sheet forming operation of the machine in a cycle during the time interval required for the machine to deliver the predetermined desired number of sheets to be collected into a stack. The cycle of the sheet supporting means consists of a first stage during which the sheet supporting means is moved across the receiving station on the one level mentioned above to collect and support a portion of the stack of sheets which are held against movement by the stop, a second stage during which the sheet supporting means is moved to uncover the floor of the station and deposit the collected portion of the stack thereon, and a third stage during which the receiving station remains uncovered by the sheet supporting means so that the remainder of the stack is collected. A transfer device is provided and operated in synchronism with the sheet supporting means to remove a collected stack from the floor of the station during the first stage of the cycle of operation of the sheet supporting means.

Preferably, the sheet supporting means consists of a pair of endless members one of which is mounted on each side of the receiving station. These endless members are parallel and arranged to travel on upper and lower runs, one of which extends substantially parallel to the floor of the receiving station at a level intermediate the floor and the discharge level of the machine. A supporting member, such as a number of spaced bars or a laterally reinforced belt, is mounted between the endless members around a portion of the length thereof, the length of the sheet supporting member being such as to provide a temporary support for the sheets of a stack being collected during the time interval required to remove a previously collected stack from the receiving station. The endless members are continuously driven in synchronism with the sheet forming operation of the machine, so as to advance the leading end of the sheet supporting member into the receiving station at the intermediate level shnultaneously with the delivery of the first sheet of a stack thereto, thus trapping this sheet and separating it from the last sheet of the previously formed stack. As the sheet supporting means continues its advance across the station, the first sheet of the stack and a number of successive sheets are segregated and supported, and While these sheets are completely separated from the previously formed stack the transfer device is operated to remove this stack from the station. The sheet supporting member then moves out of the station depositing the sheets collected and supported thereby on the floor of the station and any sheets necessary to form the remainder of the stack are added.

A representative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings which consist of the following views:

FIGURE 1, a sectional side elevation taken as indicated by the line 11 of FIG. 4 showing the oil-bearing device of the invention in partly schematic form, supporting framework and other structural members having been eliminated for the sake of clarity. In this view the parts are shown at the time the first sheet of a new stack has been delivered from the machine;

FIGURE 2, a side elevation similar to FIG. 1 showing the parts while the previously formed stack is being transferred from the receiving station and the collecting and stacking of the succeeding stack proceeds;

FIGURE 3, a side elevation similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 with the transfer of the collected stack having been completed, and a portion of the new stack being deposited on the fioor of the station; and

FIGURE 4, a sectional end elevation taken as indicated by t .e line 44 of FIG. 2.

In FIGS. 1-3, the delivery end 9 of a corrugator is represented by the endless belt 10 travelling about the roll 11 in the direction indicated by the arrow, and delivering a sheet 12 between the upper roll 14. A sheet passing under the roll 14 is expelled across a receiving station, generally indicated by the reference 16, until its travel is arrested by a stop 18. The receiving station also includes structure forming a combined floor 20 and transfer device 21, to be more fully described, and a sheet striking the stop 18 would ordinarily fall down onto this floor or on top of any sheets supported thereby.

A pair of endless chains 22, 23 are mounted one at each side of the receiving station 16, as shown in FIG. 4, about a driving sprocket 24 and idler sprockets 25 and 25, which in combination with upper track rails 27 and 28 and lower track rails 2? and 3'43, denne parallel upper and lower runs for the endless chains, the upper run extending across the receiving station at a level intermediate the level of the floor and the level of the discharge end 9 of the corrugator.

Sheet supporting means in the form of a series of bars 32 are mounted between the chains 22 and 23, each bar including a pair of supporting rollers 34 and 35 which ride on the upper and lower tracks 2730. The supporting bars are arranged in a spaced apart array so that, over the length of the endless chains, the bars provide a supporting segment for sheets and a gap or open segment through which sheets may be deposited. This gap or open segment must exceed one-half the length of the sheets being handled.

The driving sprockets 24 are mounted on a common cross-shaft 36 and are driven in unison by a suitable driving train generally indicated by the reference 33 which includes a variable speed, geared reducer unit 39, such as the conventional PIV drive, connected by an output shaft and gearing ii to the cross-shaft 36, and connected by means such as the sprocket chain 42 to the conventional mechanism (not shown) which operates the sheet cutting knife of the corrugator. The variable speed unit 39 may be adjusted to obtain a desired speed for the chains 22 and 23, and, as will be apparent from the hereinafter described mechanism and its operation, the chains can be moved at various speeds to vary the number of sheets to be accumulated in a stack. In other words, the drive train 38 is arranged to operate the endless chains 22 and 23 continuously in synchronism with the sheet forming operation of the corrugator. The over-all ratio of the drive train 38 is adjusted to drive the endless chain through one complete cycle, or revolution, during the interval the sheet cutting knife of the corrugator is forming the number of sheets to be gathered into a stack.

The remaining mechanism of the device consists of suitable means for conveying a completed stack away. In the construction shown this conveying means consists of a series of four lifting bars 46 each of which is carried by two pairs'o-f chain circuits which will be described for one of the bars only, it being understood that this arrangement is duplicated for each of the other bars 46. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a cross-pin 48 is carried by a bracket 4-? depending from one end of the bar 45, and a similar crosspin St is carried by a similar bracket 51 at the other end of the bar 416. Cross-pin 43 carries a roller 52 and is connected between a pair of sprocket chains 53 and 54,

each chain being trained about a pair of sprockets 55 i and 56 which are supported on the shafts 58 carried beneath the floor 2% as shown in FIGS. 1-3. At the other end of the bar 46, cross-pin t carries a roller 60 and is similarly connected between pairs of sprocket chains 62 and 63. One set or" the sprockets, for example, the sprockets 55 are driven by a driving connection schematically indicated at 64 from the cross-shaft 36 so that the sprockets 55 and chain circuits driven thereby also make one revolution during each cycle of operation of the chains 2223. A pair of upper tracks 66 and 67 and a lower track 68 are provided to support the rollers 52 and all of each lifting bar.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described. It will be assumed that the corrugator is running in normal fashion to continuously deliver successive sheets of uniforms lengths from the discharge end 9 thereof, in some cases these sheets being split lengthwise to form a plurality of parallel ribbons. Through the drive train 38, this operation of the corrugator results in a continuous pre-selected cycling of the endless chains 22 and 23 and their series of sheet supporting bars 32. Each cycle of the chains may be considered as being composed of a number of stages of operation as follows:

in the first stage, the leading sheet supporting bar 320 of the train of sheet supporting bars is advanced along the upper run of the path of chain travel as defined by the tracks 272 3, from left to right as the parts are shown in FIGS. 13, and enters the receiving station 16 in time to trap the trailing edge 79 of a stoppped sheet 72this being the rfirst sheet in a newly forming stack. This condition is shown in 1G. 1, and at this time, all sheets of a previously formed stack 74 are supported on the floor 2%. The other end of the sheet 72 is supported on the previously formed stack 74. As successive sheets are delivered from the machine, the supporting bars 32 continue to a vance across the receiving station, these successive sheets being deposited on top of the sheet '72 to begin the formation of a new stack, which stack is at first partially supported by the bars 32 and partially supported at one end on the preceding stack 74 Eventually the supporting bars reach a position such as shown in FIG. 2 where all the sheets of the stack 75 being formed are supported thereon and are clear of the preceding stack 74.

At this time the conveying means, operating synchronisrn with the chains 22-23, begins a transfer cycle and the preceding stack 74- is lifted off the floor by the bars 46 which are then moved along their upper supporting tracks 65-67 by the continuously driven chains to which they are connected This moves the previously formed stack 74 to the right as shown in PEG. 4 out of the receiving station while successive sheets being delivered to the receiving station are collected and supported on the moving bars 32. The previously formed stack 74, after completing its movement to the right, is lowered on a suitable transfer device such as a roller conveyor for travel (not shown) to an unloading station.

In the second stage of operation of the chains 2223, the last of the train of supporting-bars 32b (FIG. 3) of the supporting segment on the chains is advanced across and beyond the receiving station 16 to gradually withdraw its support of the accumulated sheets and deposit the stack '75 being formed onto the floor 2%, FIG. 3, showing the parts in their relative positions just an instant before the last supporting bar 32!; passes from beneath the stack 75 and beyond the stop 1%. The stack 75 is thus deposited by falling througth the open segment or" the chains 22, 23. At this time the transfer bars 46 are being returned along their lower supporting track 63.

During the tmrd stage of the cycle, the open segment of chains 22, 23 is advancing through the receiving station, and thus no supporting bars 32 extend across the receiving station. As the leading supporting 'bar 32a again returns to a position to initiate the next cycle, the last few sheets of a stack are collected on top of the sheets supported by the floor.

During the cycle of operation of the apparatus the collecting and stacking of sheets proceeds uniformly without any interruption in the delivery of sheets from the corrugator, and yet adequate time is provided for the removal of a formed stack so that the speed of operation of the conveying means for effecting this removal can be maintained within reasonable limits. The time afforde for removal of a formed stack is of course increased by increasing the length of the supporting segment of the chains or the sheet supporting means travelling across the receiving station-in other words, the span from the leading supporting bar 32a to the trailing supporting bar 32!). The limitation on increasing the length of the supporting means over that disclosed is of course allowing enough space in the open segment of the chains extending between the trailing and leading bars to permit the stack being formed and supported on the bars to fall through this space and be deposited on the floor of the receiving station as the trailing bar 32!; passes beyond the station. As a minimum this open segment is in excess of one-half the length of the longest sheet delivered by the machine which is to be stacked.

The advantages of the apparatus may be further illustrated by a specific example. The particular construction shown has been designed to accumulate individual sheets into stacks of thirty sheets each and to handle these sheets at a delivery rate from the corrugator as high as five hundred lineal feet per minute with the length of individual sheets being variable between a minimum of twenty-eight inches and a maimum of 104 inches. At this maximum delivery rate and minimum sheet length, which illustrates a high speed of operation for the apparatus, a stack is form every 8.4 seconds. Approximately 60% of this collection time or five seconds is available for the removal of a formed stack and the maximum speed of removal, or travel of the transfer conveyor bars 46, is 90 feet per minute. By comparison, other devices commercially used at the present time would require the removal of a stack in only two seconds under comparable conditions at a speed of removal of approximately 212 feet per minute.

A change in the length of sheet from the corrugator is taken care of merely by adjusting the position of the stop 18, which as shown, is in position to handle a sheet of maximum length. No attempt has been made to show an adjustable mounting for this stop 18 since this is considered to be a matter of routine design. Similarly, an adjustable mounting could be provided for the lower movable stop 80 which is carried by a crank 81 for actuation by some means such as an air cylinder in order to arrange the sheets of a stack in vertical alignment and in abutment with the fixed stop member 82 adjacent the discharge end of the machine. Actuation of this movable stop 81 would be triggered either from the chains 22 and 23 or from the transfer conveyor operation so as to take place just prior to the time the transfer conveyor begins its removal cycle,

As the apparatus is driven in synchronism with the sheet forming knife of the corrugator, its speed of operation is automatically related to the rate at which sheets are formed regardless of the length of a sheet, and no adjustment for sheet length is required other than adjusting the position of the stops 18 and 80.

Various modifications of the construction shown will naturally occur to those skilled in the art and such modifications are as Within the scope of the following claims are to be considered as pm of the invention.

I claim:

1. Sheet material handling apparatus for use at the discharge end of a machine such as a corrugator for continously collecting successive sheets delivered into uniform stacks and removing such stacks, said apparatus comprising (a) means forming a sheet receiving station adjacent the discharge end of said machine including stop means engageable by the advancing edge of each sheet at a distance in excess of the length of a sheet from the discharge end, and means forming a floor for said receiving station at a level below the discharge level of said machine;

(1) a pair of endless members;

(0) means mounting one of said endless members on each side of said receiving station, said mounting means defining a loop including upper and lower runs for said endless members with said upper run extending through said receiving station at a level intermediate the level of said floor and the level of the discharge end of said machine but above the level of the floor by a distance greater than the maximum height of a stack to be collected and said lower run extending beneath said fioor;

(d) sheet supporting means mounted between said endless members around a portion of the length thereof, the leading and trailing ends of the sheet supporting means being separated by a gap which is in excess of one-half the maximum length of a sheet delivered by said machine;

(e) means for continuously driving said endless members around said loop in synchronism with the sheet forming operation of said machine in a cycle during the time interval required for said machine to deliver the desired number of sheets in a stack, said cycle including a first stage during which the leading end of the sheet supporting means is moved into and across said receiving station on the upper run contemporaneously with the delivery of the first sheet of a new stack to said receiving station from said machine to progressively support said first sheet and a plurality of successive sheets held against movement by said stop means, a second stage during which the trailing end of said sheet supporting means is progressively following said leading end across said receiving station and is gradually withdrawn from beneath said first sheet and all successive sheets on top thereof held against movement by said stop means to permit said sheets to pass through the gap between the trailing and leading ends of said supporting means onto said floor; and

(f) transfer means operating in synchronism with said sheet supporting means to remove a stack from said floor during said first stage.

2. Apparatus for collecting, stacking and handling material delivered in successive sheets from the discharge end of a machine such as a corrugator comprising stop means defining a receiving station adjacent the discharge end of said machine; means forming a floor for said receiving station; sheet supporting means having a length in excess of the length of a sheet; means mounting said sheet supporting means for movement around an endless path which includes an upper run above the level of said floor a distance at least equal to the height of a stack, and a lower run beneath said floor; and means for continuously driving said sheet supportin means around said endless path in synchronism with the sheet forming operation of said machine in a cycle during the time interval required for said machine to deliver the number of sheets in a stack; said cycle consisting of a first stage during which said sheet supporting means is moved over said floor on said upper run to collect and support a portion of a stack of sheets held against movement by said stop means, a second stage during which said sheet supporting means is moved from beneath said portion of a stack of sheets held against movement by said stop means to uncover said floor and deposit said portion of a stack thereon, and a third stage during which said floor remains uncovered by said sheet supporting means to collect the remaining portion of said stack.

3. Apparatus for collecting, stacking and handling material delivered in successive sheets from the discharge end of a machine such as a corrugator, comprising means forming a sheet receiving station adjacent the discharge end of said machine including stop means e'ngageable by the advancing edge of each sheet at a distance in excess of the length of a sheet from the discharge end, and means forming a floor for said receiwng station at a level below the discharge level of said machine; a pair of endless members; means mounting one of said endless members on each side of said receiving station, said mounting means defining a loop including upper and lower runs for said endless members with the upper one of said runs extending substantially parallel to and above said floor a distance at least equal to the height of a stack, and the lower of said runs extending below said floor; sheet supporting means mounted between said endless members around a portion of the length thereof; means for continuously driving said endless members around said loop in synchronism with the sheet forming operation of said machine in a cycle during the time interval required for said machine to deliver the number of sheets in a stack, said cycle including a first stage during which said sheet supporting means is moved into and across said receiving station on said upper run contemporaneously with the delivery of the first sheet of a new stack to said receiving station from said machine whereby said first sheet and a plurality of successive sheets are segregated from a preceding stack and gradually supported by said supporting means above said floor; and a second stage during which the trailing end of said sheet supporting means is moved across said receiving stat on to gradually uncover said floor and deposit the said segregated sheets thereon.

4-. Sheet material handlin apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the length of said endless members exceeds the length of said supporting means by a distance such that the sheets segregated on said supporting means can pass between the trailing and leading thereof and be deposited on said floor.

5. Sheet material handling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the length of said endless members exceeds the length between the leading and trailing ends of the supporting means carried thereby by a gap which is in excess of one-half the maximum length of a sheet delivered by said machine, said cycle including a third stage during which the floor of said receiving station is uncovered by said supporting means for an interval during which one or more sheets are delivered by said machine and deposited on top of the collected sheets supported on said floor prior to the initiation of the first stage of the succeeding cycle.

6. Sheet handling apparatus according to claim 3 in which said driving means is arranged to move sadd sheet supporting means across said receiving station in the direction of movement of sheets deli ered to said receiving station from said machine whereby said stop means acts to hold sheets supported by said supporting means against movement therewith.

7. Apparatus for collecting, stacking and handling material delivered in successive sheets from the discharge end of a machine comprising stop means horizontally disposed from he discharge end of said machine a distance in excess of the length of said sheets defining a sheet receiving station, floor means at said receiving station, parallel endless means supported to travel in a loop including an upper run extending through the length of said station at a level above said floor means and below the discharge level of said machine, said loop including a return run below said floor means; plural supporting members connected between said parallel endless means and arranged therealong to provide a supporting segment and an open segment, said open segment being in excess of one-half the length of a sheet; and drive means connected to said parallel endless means for moving said supporting segment around said loop successively into and through said sheet receiving station along said upper run, one or more successive sheets delivered against said stop means being supported and segregated by said supporting members at said station and held against movement by said stop means whereupon said open segment is successively moved into through said station along said upper run to release said segregated sheets from said supporting members for deposit on said floor means.

8. Apparatus for collecting, stacking and handling material delivered in successive sheets from the discharge end of a machine comprising stop means horizontally disposed from the discharge end of said machine a distance in excess of the length of said sheets defining a sheet receiving station; sheet supporting fioor means at said receiving station; parallel endless means supported to travel in a loop including an upper run extending throughout the length of said station above said floor means and below the discharge level of said machine,said loop further including a return run below said floor means; plural supporting members connected between said parallel endless'means and arranged therealong to provide a supporting segment and an open segment, said open segment being in excess of one-half the length of a sheet; drive means connected to said parallel endless means for moving said supporting segment around said loop successively into and through said sheet receiving station along said upper run, one or more of said successive sheets delivered against said stop means being segregated and supported by said supporting members at said station and held against movement with said supporting segment by said stop means, whereupon said open segment is successively moved into and through said station along said upper run to release said segregated sheets from their support for deposit on said floor means; and a conveying means operable for conveying a collected stack of sheets from said floor while a succeeding stack is being formed on said supporting members, whereby all sheets delivered by said machine are ultimately gra itated to stack form at a common level and transferred therefrom,

References fits-d in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,938,325 English at al Dec. 5, 1933 2,205,767 Lamb June 25, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 467,508 Italy Dec. 10, 1951 

1. SHEET MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS FOR USE AT THE DISCHARGE END OF A MACHINE SUCH AS A CORRUGATOR FOR CONTINUOUSLY COLLECTING SUCCESSIVE SHEETS DELIVERED INTO UNIFORM STACKS AND REMOVING SUCH STACKS, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING (A) MEANS FORMING A SHEET RECEIVING STATION ADJACENT THE DISCHARGE END OF SAID MACHINE INCLUDING STOP MEANS ENGAGEABLE BY THE ADVANCING EDGE OF EACH SHEET AT A DISTANCE IN EXCESS OF THE LENGTH OF A SHEET FROM THE DISCHARGE END, AND MEANS FORMING A FLOOR FOR SAID RECEIVING STATION AT A LEVEL BELOW THE DISCHARGE LEVEL OF SAID MACHINE; (B) A PAIR OF ENDLESS MEMBERS; (C) MEANS MOUNTING ONE OF SAID ENDLESS MEMBERS ON EACH SIDE OF SAID RECEIVING STATION, SAID MOUNTING MEANS DEFINING A LOOP INCLUDING UPPER AND LOWER RUNS FOR SAID ENDLESS MEMBERS WITH SAID UPPER RUN EXTENDING THROUGH SAID RECEIVING STATION AT A LEVEL INTERMEDIATE THE LEVEL OF SAID FLOOR AND THE LEVEL OF THE DISCHARGE END OF SAID MACHINE BUT ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE FLOOR BY A DISTANCE GREATER THAN THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF A STACK TO BE COLLECTED AND SAID LOWER RUN EXTENDING BENEATH SAID FLOOR; 